IAAF gives Blade Runner blunt reply

The IAAF has rejected criticism from double amputee Oscar Pistorius, insisting the South African needs to “respect” the governing body.

The 20-year-old, who is aiming to compete in the Beijing Olympics next year, competed against able-bodied athletes at the Rome Golden League meeting and in Sheffield at the weekend.

Now the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is evaluating whether he is receiving mechanical assistance.

Pistorius is nicknamed the “Blade Runner” because of the carbon cheetah blades he uses on both legs below the knees, which have prompted a mixed reaction.

He was critical of the lack of communication with the body and said: “They have things to rectify and it is their duty to do the necessary testing to clear up this matter.

“The ban they implemented made me go back to a winter training schedule but then four weeks ago when they lifted it, I had to go back to a summer schedule, so it has stuffed up my season.”

IAAF communications director Nick Davies, however, said: “We believe these are technical aids. We are giving him the benefit of the doubt by doing research on his blades. The fact is he’s never been banned.

“We have a rule that basically forbids technical aids. We’ve got nothing against disabled athletes. What we did four weeks ago was not reinstate him but actually clarify he wasn’t banned, that he could run.

“What we are doing now is...finding out if his blades do give him an advantage, in other words make him faster than he would have been as an able-bodied athlete.

“I just think he needs to calm down a little bit and to respect us as well, and the fact that we’re paying for the research — he isn’t.

“We’re doing it off our own bat and we’re just trying to be very fair with him.”